09 Jul LEON to open its first US store soon

LEON, invested by GP through Spice Private Equity, is heading to United States. In an interview to Foodsservices Consultants Society International, Glenn Edwards, managing director of LEON USA, tells about taking the British healthy fast food brand to the US and how he plans to overcome the challenges that Leon faces in the home of traditional fast food. Edwards also talks about Leon’s major competitors, the particularities of the US market and the plans for the future.

FoodFirst Global Restaurants is a collaboration between American restaurateur/owner-partner Brad Blum and Brazilian-based investment firm GP Investments, Ltd. At FoodFirst Global Restaurants, we are passionate about good food, know good food, enjoy good food, and are dedicated to always improving upon and consistently providing good food.

Invested: 2018
Status: Portfolio

The Craftory is a revolutionary concept: a new investment company dedicated entirely to backing disruptive new challengers in the consumer goods space. Founded by Elio Leoni-Sceti and Ernesto Schmitt, plus a dedicated team of brand and digital experts, The Craftory presents the new model of growth in fast-moving consumer goods: its capital is permanent, its principals are entrepreneurs and brand experts themselves, and its focus is on amplification: multiplying the impact and reach of its brands from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions of consumers, without compromising the brands’ mission or purpose.

LEON is a natural fast food chain inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, with a menu marked by nutritious ingredients and items that include superfoods (avocado, quinoa, broccoli, among others). Founded in 2004, it is recognized for spreading healthy and natural eating habits.

Rimini Street is the global leader in providing third-party enterprise software support services, including products licensed by Oracle, SAP, IBM, Microsoft among others, saving the customer at least 50% on total support costs.

Invested in 2017

Status: Portfolio

One of the largest retail chains in Rio de Janeiro and the state’s mountainous region in the 90s. After buying six ABC stores in Teresópolis, Petrópolis and Nova Friburgo, and investing in the expansion of the supermarket chain, GP Investments sold the company to Grupo Pão de Açúcar in 2001.

Invested in 1998

Status: Realized

One of the largest private higher education organizations in Brazil in number of students enrolled. It maintains a faculty of approximately 7 thousand professors and offers 86 different face-to-face and distance courses in Undergraduate and Technological Graduation in the areas of Exact Sciences, Biological Sciences and Human Sciences. It also offers 110 latu senso Postgraduate courses, five Master’s courses and three PhD courses, as well as free courses for corporate education.

Equatorial Energia was incorporated in June 1999, initially, to participate in the privatization auction of Companhia Energética do Maranhão (“CEMAR”). Currently, it is a holding company with operations in the Brazilian electricity sector, in the distribution, transmission and generation segments.

Ferrovia Centro Atlântica, better known as FCA, was created in September 1996, assuming the privatized rail network of RFFSA, following the National Privatization Program. Nowadays, it operates in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe and Distrito Federal. Since 2013, FCA has been part of Grupo Vale.

Founded in 1997 as Ferrovia Sul Atlântico, América Latina Logística (ALL) was one of three companies to take over rail services in Brazil after the privatization process in the segment. Controlling of the country’s largest rail network, it was absorbed by Rumo, in 2015.

Invested in 1998

Status: Realized

Provider of integrated drilling, services and management to oil and natural gas companies.

Invested in 2007

Status: Portfolio

Company focused on the development of Wi-Fi solutions

Invested in 2003

Status: Realized

Website created in 1997 to record appointments in a virtual personal agenda. It became the most popular electronic address book of the Brazilian web in the early 2000s, with over 1 million users. The technology allowed to store more than 5 million birthdays and was able to send 5 million emails daily.

Invested in 1999

Status: Realized

Founded in 2001, Automatos is one of the pioneers in offering software as a service in Brazil. With clients from the most diverse market segments and throughout the country, the company manages through its asset management intelligence solution, more than 1 million IT devices.

MaxLog was a freight marketplace company focused on the Brazilian road transportation market.

Invested in 2000

Status: Realized

Founded in 1999, became one of the main travel purchasing portals in Brazil. In 2002, it was acquired by Decolar.com, becoming the largest company offering online services in the tourism sector in Latin America, with 2 millions of users at the time.

Invested in 2000

Status: Realized

Integrated Health Holdings, Incorporated (IHH) is a leader in the health insurance management business. Its clients are insurance companies and mid and large sized employers, who outsource the management of clinics and hospitals network to IHH, as well as medical procedures authorization and account processing. IHH also offers corporate dental plans.

Invested in 2000

Status: Realized

Mercado Eletrônico is a portal specialized in B2B commerce. It unites buyers and suppliers communities through a platform that promotes the combination of technology and diverse services, encouraging commercial transactions.

Created in 1995, Webmotors has conquered the rank as the largest Brazilian portal in the automotive segment. At Webmotors, classified ads for new and used vehicles, preventive vehicle maintenance programs are available, including specific products specifically targeted at vehicle resellers.

Financial portal, founded in Argentina in 1997. It offered financial products and services in Latin America, through offices in Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile and the United States (Miami and New York). It ended up being bought by Banco Santander in 2000.

Invested in 1999

Status: Realized

Mandic was one of the first Internet providers in Brazil, created from a partnership between GP and entrepreneur Aleksandar Mandic. In the 1990s, it became one of the giants of the Brazilian Internet, with 70 thousand users. Subsequently it was sold to an Argentine company called O Site.

Invested in 1999

Status: Realized

Ibest Company, once a website that honored the best initiatives of the Brazilian internet, owner of the ibest award and the research institute Opina, became a free internet provider, after it was acquired by GP Investments and Brasil Telecom.

Invested in 1999

Status: Realized

Internet Group, known by the acronym iG is a provider of Brazilian broadband Internet access and dial-up Internet access. The company went into operation in January 2000 and quickly gained widespread popularity at a time when broadband was uncommon. In addition to provider, iG is also known for its portal, which houses important sites such as Último Segundo, a news website.

Former Multicanal, it was renamed Globo cabo in 1998, when Globo Cabo Holding increased its shareholding. In 2000, it acquired NET Sul and two years later, became NET, the largest pay TV operator in Latin America.

One of the largest pay TV operators in Brazil, it was born after grouping of several small operators. It was sold to Organizações Globo, and later became NET.

Invested in

Status: Realized

Consortium participated in the mobile phone concessions promoted by the government in 1997 to operate in the regions of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo.

Invested in 1994

Status: Realized

BR Towers was one of the largest independent tower operators in Brazil, with a portfolio of more than 4,200 units under its management. The company was created by GP Investments in 2012, with nationwide presence and well positioned to gain market share. It was acquired by American Towers in 2013.

Invested in 2013

Status: Realized

Pegasus was a provider of data communication infrastructure, high-capacity bandwidth and value-added services to the corporate market.

Invested in 2000

Status: Realized

Geodex was a telecommunications company, which owns 11 thousand kilometers of fiber optic from the South to the Northeast. Geodex’s infrastructure included cities such as Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Florianópolis and Belo Horizonte, São Paulo, Campinas, São José dos Campos (SP), Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Fortaleza. The company was acquired by GVT in 2007.

Invested in 2001

Status: Realized

Telemar Norte Leste S.A. was a mobile telephony concessionaire founded in 1998, following Telebrás privatization. Initially, Telemar was made up of companies from 16 states, which were eventually integrated. As of 2007, it began to use the brand Oi.

Benchmark in the supply of mineral aggregates and construction materials, with a vast portfolio of mineral exploitation rights in strategic regions of Brazil. The company presents financial transactions of approximately R$ 10 billion per year – it is the largest mineral business in Brazil in volume.

A global leader in the refractory solutions market, the company is the result of the merger of the operations of Austrian RHI and Brazilian Magnesita (controlled by GP) in July 2017. The company stands out in the world market for refractory solutions for being a vertically integrated company, supplying approximately 80% of raw material needed with its own mineral reserves, being one of the producers with lower costs within the refractory industry. Among these reserves are the largest and best mines of magnesite and dolomite in the world.

Leader in the manufacture of industrial valves and supplier of services and equipment specially directed to the oil and gas sector. The company provides, among others, polyester ropes (for deep and ultra-deep waters platform anchoring), valves, special pipe coatings, gas compressors, fiber optic monitoring systems, as well as general platform services.

Company specialized in fleet management and vehicles and cargo monitoring. It provides solutions for carriers, raising vehicle and cargo safety levels, as well as preventing accidents while controlling operating costs. The company is currently part of the Grupo Michelan.

Brazil’s leading field marketing company, the company has been consolidating itself in the training of Field Marketing team management, excellence in execution and POS domain, retail intelligence improvement, as well as developing towards shopper understanding and enchantment.

Tempo Assist was a leading service provider for insurance companies in the Brazilian insurance service market, offering three types of service focusing on the corporate market: health plan management, dental plans, and services, including specialized 24-hour services, home care and chronic disease management.

BR Properties is one of the leading commercial real estate investment companies in Brazil. The Company focuses on the acquisition, lease, management, development and sale of commercial real estate, mostly qualified real estate such as offices, industrial and retail warehouses located in the main metropolitan areas of Brazil, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba and Belo Horizonte.

Invested in 2007 and 2016

Status: Portfolio

www.brproperties.com.br

BRMalls is the largest shopping mall company in Latin America. The malls feature a strategically diversified portfolio by income segment, widespread across all regions of the country, serving customers from all social classes, having greater exposure to the middle class, the fastest growing segment in the country.

Invested in 2006

Status: Realized

www.brmalls.com.br

Gafisa is one of the leading builders in the Brazilian real estate market focusing on medium and high-end commercial and residential developments. With more than six decades of operation, the company has delivered more than a thousand projects, distributed in more than 30 cities in the country.

Invested in 2007

Status: Realized

www.gafisa.com.br

Third largest hotel chain in Brazil, BHG manages hotels located in all regions of Brazil. Its portfolio includes hotels in urban centers with more than 250 thousand inhabitants, attracting business travelers. The facilities feature three, four or five stars. BGH has partnered with Accor in 2017 to manage hotels.

Invested in 2007

Status: Portfolio

www.bhg.com.br

Beleza Natural opened its first store in 1993 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in 2005 joined Endeavor, an international NGO team aimed at fostering high impact entrepreneurship. After receiving investment from GP Investments in 2013, Beleza Natural inaugurated beauty parlors in other states of Brazil and is preparing to debut in the United States.

Invested in 2013

Status: Portfolio

www.belezanatural.com.br

Created in 2006, when its first clinic was inaugurated, the company grew rapidly, with 20 units scattered throughout the country.

Invested in 2008

Status: Realized

Wiz is a brokerage firm that offers and implements precise solutions to leverage business, combining financial and insurance services according to the needs of each client. Insurances offered are auto, life, residential, dental and civil liability among others.

Invested in 2013

Status: Realized

www.wizsolucoes.com.br

Opened in 1973, on a plot of 85 thousands square meters, Playcenter turned into a real postcard for the city of São Paulo. Throughout its 39 years of activity, it attracted more than 60 million visitors from all over Brazil and neighboring countries.

Invested in 1995

Status: Realized

www.playcenter.com.br

The first Fogo de Chão steakhouse was opened in 1975 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The steakhouse chain exported to the American market the concept of rotation service of noble meats, in which several cuts are savored, served on the skewer.

Invested in 2006

Status: Realized

www.fogodechao.com.br

Inaugurated in 1999 and located 30 km from São Paulo, Brazil, Hopi Hari was one of the biggest amusement parks in Latin America, with 760 thousand square meters. It was designed as a fictitious country, with president, capital and even own language.

Invested in 1998

Status: Realized

One of the largest retail chains in Rio de Janeiro and the state’s mountainous region in the 90s. After buying six ABC stores in Teresópolis, Petrópolis and Nova Friburgo, and investing in the expansion of the supermarket chain, GP Investments sold the company to Grupo Pão de Açúcar in 2001.

Invested in 1998

Status: Realized

Created in 2010 from the merger of LeitBom with Bom Gosto, LBR was born as a dairy giant, being the third largest company in the segment in Brazil. Its products were marketed under the brands Parmalat, Bom Gosto, LeitBom, Líder, Boa Nata, Ibituruna, São Gabriel and Da Matta. From 2013, the brands and factories were sold.

Invested in 2008

Status: Portfolio

Founded in 2001, Hypermarcas is Brazil’s largest pharmaceutical company. The company is the second in the similar and generic medicines market with the Neo Química brand. Before becoming an essentially pharmaceutical company, Hypermarcas also operated in the cosmetics, hygiene and cleaning sectors. Both divisions were sold when the company decided to focus on the medicines segment.

Mahler Investment Limited, a holding company located in the Virgin Islands, was a wholly owned subsidiary of Brahma Company, which later gave rise to Ambev.

Invested in 1994

Status: Realized

Fratelli Vita was a soft drink company and manufacturer of crystals, founded in 1902 by the Italian brothers Giuseppe and Francesco Vita, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. In the 1970s, the Fratelli Vita brand was purchased by Brahma and today is a brand of mineral water manufactured by Ambev.

Invested in 1994

Status: Realized

Traditional brand in bed, table and bathroom articles, with almost 80 years of experience in the segment. In 2011, the ARTEX brand inaugurated its first store of its own and today is a retail network, which also offers decor objects in stores in several shopping malls in the country.

Invested in 1994

Status: Realized

www.artex.com.br

Centauro is Latin America’s largest retailer of sporting goods. Founded in April 1981 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, the company is currently present in all Brazilian territory with stores in 22 states and Federal District, with more than 190 stores. Centauro bets on the concept of “full size” store, a true temple dedicated to sport, where the customer not only buys, but lives a different experience in its relation with the brand.

Invested in 2012

Status: Portfolio

www.centauro.com.br

Supermarket chain with 50 stores in Bahia and Pernambuco (Petrolina), Brazil. In 1997, it was purchased from GP Investments by the retailer Bom Preço, from the Paes Mendonça family, also from Bahia, Brazil.

Invested in 1995

Status: Realized

Founded in 1954 by the Sé family, it became one of the largest supermarket chains in the state of São Paulo in the 1990s, with stores in the state capital and in the countryside. It was later incorporated by the Grupo Pão de Açúcar.

E-commerce website for office tools, OfficeNet sells about 10,000 items, including computer and stationery supplies. The company has become a case developed by Harvard Business School: “Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets.” Currently, OfficeNet is owned by Staples, world leader in office supplies sales.

Invested in 1999

Status: Realized

First Brazilian sales channel on TV. It operates via internet, catalog and telesales. The brands focus on the integration between its different sales channels in order to provide its customers with the best shopping experience. Currently, it is part of the digital platform B2W, next to Submarino and Americanas.com.

Pioneer online store, benchmark in technology and innovation. It offers more than 30 categories of products through internet, telesales, cell phones and catalogs, with emphasis on the sale of books, games, DVDs, electronics, computers, telephony, fashion and online services. Currently, it is part of the digital platform B2W, leader in e- commerce in Latin America.